Before the full marathon in October I was advised to get in a few more official races to practice the race day protocol.  So without much need for further convincing back in June I eagerly trawled the internet and the pages of Runners’ World searching for races which matched with our training programme.  The result was entry into 2 more half marathons and a 10 K.

The first of these ‘practice’ races was on Sunday (09/08/15) in Clacton-on-Sea.

The Clacton-on-Sea Half had appealed to me because it was described as a flat course along the coast – much like the Lisbon Marathon will be. On top of that, British seaside towns fill me with nostalgia for my childhood and I thought I might get the chance to play in arcades or defy death in the amusement parks as well as consume a Mr Whippy.

I was excited to practice my pre-race protocol mostly since it includes a legitimate excuse stuff my face with meatball calzone (before a race it totally counts as carb loading).  Over dinner between delicious bites Andreas and I discussed race tactics.  I wanted to treat it like any other long run – i.e. go slowly, whereas Andreas wanted to try and best our time from the Liverpool ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ Half Marathon.  To be honest, I pretty much thought beating our previous time was a given.  During the Liverpool Half I had to stop to use the toilet and since I figured we were already behind schedule I also stopped to chat to friends that had come out to support us.  All this chatting and faffing and waiting in long portaloo queues in Liverpool must have added at least 10-15 minutes on to our time – I figured, with optimistic hindsight – so we can easily beat 2:29:17.  In the end, feeling wonderfully optimistic, throwing all caution to the wind and heroically passing on dessert I might add, we decided to aim for about 2:15:00 which is an average pace of about 6:30 mins/K. Easy eh?

Happily jumping from bed the next morning, eating our predetermined race day breakfast of banana and brioche bread and raring to go, we drove down to the race start with 45 minutes to spare.  Plenty of time to warm up, go to the loo etc. or so we thought.  The first hitch to the plan was the queue for the ladies – only 2 cubicles for a race with at least 600 or so people (!).  Inevitably we were late starting and despite good intentions I didn’t warm up.  Note: Warming up actually serves a purpose as I discovered after mile 8 when I had to keep stopping to stretch out tight leg muscles.

Anyway – long run in brief; it was hot, really hot for running (22-26°C) and whilst it definitely seemed easier than the Liverpool Half in the end it never really picked up.  What I mean is, whilst I was never at the point of feeling I can’t go on – in Liverpool at mile 10 I cried to Andreas that my legs hurt, hell my arms hurt, even my hair hurts and he smoothly replied ‘wasn’t that the point, it’s not meant to be easy’ and I reluctantly agreed and carried on – I also never had a moment like in Krakow where I felt like I was really doing this (!).  My theory is the heat had baked that part of my brain to a crisp.  Kilometres drifted by without me really being aware of what was happening.  2:15:00 came and went without notice.

The last 2 K on red tarmac was the worst, not because I was tired or had aching muscles but because the sun was directly overhead in a perfectly blue sky and beaming radiation down harshly upon us.  The coastal breeze was only an occasional lick of even hotter air pushing against you and the road was superheated so it was like running on fire.  I think it is the first time I have been at the seaside and wished for a cloud or two to appear above us – or perhaps a quick thunderstorm would be nice.  Still, on the other hand, you couldn’t deny that it was a glorious day and there was good support along the route.  It is always pleasant to hear “good job guys” and clapping from random strangers.  And, I suppose, I shouldn’t really complain about the weather considering we are running the Marathon in Lisbon, Portugal.  If anything, I should consider it good temperature conditioning.

The end result was 2:27:11, over 2 minutes off our previous record and I can honestly say we worked for every second of that!

Week 6: Total mileage for the week was 37 K (23 miles), total running time was 4:21

I am a massive fan of ParkRuns!

ParkRuns are free, weekly (every Saturday 9 am) timed 5 K runs up and down the country.  You only have to register once then you can turn up at any event – there is no commitment, you choose when it suits you.  You find runners with the whole range of running abilities, from those who bomb it round in 15 minutes to those of us in it for the long slog.  You will not find a more varied, inclusive or supportive running community.  People run with their dogs with their babies in prams with their kids with their partners with their friends – the spirit is always high. The ParkRun volunteers will cheer you on with enthusiasm regardless of whether you are running in first or last place (or any position in between).  I cannot recommend ParkRuns enough!

In addition my little brother Kyle, took up running in January and has also caught the bug!  He is currently training for his first Half Marathon – the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon on the 27/09/15 – go Kyle!

So when serendipitously it turned out that Krakow, where Kyle, Mum and I were visiting on a city break (to celebrate their birthdays) has a ParkRun… well it was obvious to me what had to happen!

And so on Saturday the 1st of August at 9 am in Krakow, Poland, Kyle and I, with 102 other runners set off.

The Krakow ParkRun course is a wide tarmac path enclosing a pizza wedge shaped park. It was flat, straight and even – basically the perfect running terrain and almost immediately I knew it was going to be a good run.

My suspicion was confirmed when the first K was up and my pace was 5:52 min/K (normally I run 6:30 comfortably or 6:00 at a push over short distances). The next K was completed even faster at 5:41 and I still felt great. At this point Kyle started to slip a bit behind and like the loving sister that I am, I abandoned him in a trail of dust to his fate.

As normal the ParkRun volunteers cheered and danced and shouted support – pushing me to run even faster. I was beginning to feel tired – running at this pace is energy consuming – but I also felt invigorated in a way. After all I was still running wasn’t I? I was still putting one foot in front of the other. I was definitely doing it! Besides I could see I was gaining on a few other runners so I was chasing them down, picking them off one by one. Guy with buggy, check, tall guy in red, check, girl in pink and black… this last runner I chased for ages. If she can do it, so can I. I told myself. Just a little bit longer.

The final corner and the last straight, I pass girl in pink and black and it is just me and the 500 m to the finish. I can do this, I can do this. Arms, legs, lungs, heart and head… we are all focused on this simple task – it is harmony in motion.

I cross the line to the cheering of a few dozen Poles, grab my finishing barcode and go to stop my GPS watch… realise I am a few metres short and confuse everyone by running off again. A bit anticlimactic but I wanted to hit 5 K because it was such a good run!

By the time I come back to the finish line my brother was already crossing it.  My mum had made some new friends whilst spectating and so the spirit of ParkRun is maintained even outside of the UK! (I am not surprised).

Our official times were 26:55 and 30:02 both new personal bests!!

Week 5: Total mileage for the week was 34 K (21.1 miles), total running time was 3:44.

If you’ve read any advice on running the experts give 3 tips in a nutshell;
1) Wear appropriate footwear
2) Warm up and cool down
3) Cross-train

If this week epitomises anything it’s point 3. Cross-training! That is activities which are not running. Cross-training is recommended because injuries can arise with any muscle imbalances and performing other exercises strengthens muscles which aren’t used for running. Thus cross-training helps to keep you balanced and hopefully injury free.  To put it another way; running is by its nature a repetitive exercise – you just put one foot in front of the other and repeat until done – so to improve your running performance and prevent overuse doing something different will keep you fresh and allow those running muscles to recover.

Having been injured once before and barely able to walk let alone run I am now terrified of injuring myself again.  So I do make a point to cross-train.  Ordinarily I cross-train by swimming 2-3 times a week and cycling to and from work (about 20 K a week).  Both swimming and cycling are great cross-training activities for runners as they are non-weight bearing but still improve your cardiovascular health.  I am also convinced it was swimming that helped me finally get proper breathing technique as in water my breaths had to be timed to my strokes – which can easily be applied to steps whilst running.

However, this week, there was something more special in store as Andreas and I were in St. Marine, Brittany, France staying with his extremely active Aunt and Uncle.

Together we have gone on bike rides to the coast and mountains, swam in the sea, ridden a horse, kayaked up and down a river, walked along port fortifications, climbed hundreds of steps to the top of a lighthouse, paddle boarded, sailed a catamaran and still slipped in over 20 miles of running.  If I hadn’t consumed copious amounts of fromage et pain (cheese and bread) with every meal it would also have been extremely healthy.

The best thing in all of this for me, is the knowledge that I can actually do these activities without dying on the spot from physical exhaustion or suffering for days afterwards from aching muscles. Don’t get me wrong, last year, I would have still tried all the activities – but it is still a relief to fit into an ‘M’ sized wet-suit and to not always be the slowest. Except, that is, the day I decided to wear heels because we were just visiting friends but then the weather improved so we went for a walk on rocky terrain! I was the slowest that day because I missed point 1 – appropriate footwear – but, hey, at least I looked the coolest.

Brittany really is a beautiful corner of the world and I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.  Andreas and I agreed we definitely need to go back again!  Merci beacoup to our hosts for entertaining us so well!

Week 4: Total mileage for the week was 15 K (9.3 miles), total running time was 1:45 (because the 19 K run was on the Monday and so I count it in the next week).

From the pre-dawn magic of Mallorca to the post-dusk danger of Didcot. Note to self: if you have a 2 hour run to do don’t wait until 20:30 before setting off. But alas, we had 16 K to run and through procrastination (a BBQ and 3 episodes of House) we left late and unprepared.

“Don’t worry, it’s summer”. We told ourselves. “It’s light until like midnight… Besides the path is totally even and straight.”

We were headed to Little Wittenham and back – about 14 K but we can make the rest of the distance up around the Ladygrove Loop. It follows national cycle path #5 past a few fields growing rape seed and the two picturesque villages of Long and Little Wittenham where the charity Earth’s Trust is based. (FYI: We are signed up to their 10 K run on 6th of September because how could we not with it being so local and for a good cause?).

Anyway, about 4 K in, Andreas, my boyfriend, may have mentioned once or twice about the setting sun and should we be worried(?). What can I say, he was right. The sun was already edging towards the horizon and the shadows of the trees were long and ominous – but in my mind, we had already committed to this route – so regardless, Little Wittenham was being run to. It was still light. There was a path. No traffic. A straight line.

We reached Little Wittenham and our turning point to head back which is when I joined Andreas in being worried about the setting sun. Thus far we had been running “away” from the sun and so its decent was not hugely obvious however now we were chasing it. My brain helpfully thought up a montage of every vampire story I have ever come across and fictional soundtrack to match. It didn’t help that our running backdrop had changed into something worthy of an apocalypse movie. The skyline was murderously red, the clouds were looming – practically scraping the hilltops, the silhouettes of carefully planted trees looked like tombstones lined up to play witness to our doom. To top it off I had definitely seen three or four big black crows earlier whom would probably peck out my eyes if given a chance.

I have occasionally been accused of having an overactive imagination.

The only saving grace was that the moon was not out. The last thing I needed was the addition of werewolf tales to my building horror monologue. Of course later on, when the sun had set proper and I was finding my way by closely following flashes of Andreas’ white trainers in the gloom ahead, I did think some moonlight might have actually helped a bit. Instead of being worried about vampires I was now mostly worried about tripping and twisting an ankle. The mere mention of running injuries terrifies me!

Anyway, a few tentative but accident free kilometers back to Didcot later and we were on the illuminated Ladygrove Loop for the final 2 K.

In the comfort of your own home, freshly showered, snacking on a nectarine and wondering if Netflix might have “From Dusk Til Dawn”, it’s hard to remember what all the fuss was about.

Week 3: Total mileage for the week was 32 K (19.9 miles), total running time was 3:40

My alarm blares loudly. It’s 5 am. I am in Cala Millor, a small tourist town in eastern Mallorca. I am on holiday. Outside is still dark with only a hint of dawn. It’s already 22°C and the sun isn’t even up yet – it will be 30°C by midday. Today I have to run 14.5 K to hit my training schedule for the Lisbon Marathon.

By all accounts, I am not a morning person. I don’t get the concept of a ‘morning run’. I am not against mornings in general I would just rather they take place whilst I am asleep. But, it will be too hot to run later so I eat a banana for fuel, dress and slap sunscreen on my face.  All these things I do on autopilot and before long I am outside doing my warm up exercises. My friend Anna is with me, aiming for 6 K, it will be her longest run ever. I set my GPS watch to run mode and we’re off.

Almost immediately the early start reaps its rewards. The ocean air and dreamlike beauty of this island invigorates us both. We run at a leisurely pace, slower than I would normally run but I don’t mind. It’s nice to have company and frankly delightful not being completely out of breath.

The path is flat and wide, following the coastline.  At night you would struggle to run for the sheer volume of people bustling along but now in the pre-dawn light the place is much less populous. We pass the occasional runner with a conspiratorial smile. Nationality doesn’t matter, if you are a runner, you are automatically accepted into the scenery.

As the sun hits the horizon the sea is transformed into a glittering assortment of diamonds, sapphires and turquoise. In the distance, you can make out the outline of surprisingly green hills through the morning mist.

6 K comes and goes and Anna, on the longest run of her life is still going strong. The sun has steadily risen and with it the last of the morning dew is burnt off. The temperature rapidly rises too but it’s okay, at this relaxed pace I feel I can run forever.

Anna retires upon completing her first 10 K! I congratulate her and move on. With only 4.5 K left to run I pick up the pace and glide to the finish. I am left with the feeling of wanting to run more. Looking out across the beautiful ocean, with unspent energy in my legs and feeling revitalised and awake – I wonder if there maybe something in these morning runs after all!

Week 2: Total mileage for the week was 29.5 K (18.5 miles), total running time was 3:28.

I have run in and around Didcot for the last 10 months – I thought I must have pretty much covered the entire area and exhausted all the possible running routes.

So I was really surprised to discover that south of Didcot lies an impressive raised path which cuts through the idyllic Oxfordshire countryside.  It is part of the national cycle network (route 44) and wide enough to accommodate cyclist, walker, buggy stroller, trotting Labrador and runner alike.  The route, lined with artful benches and wildflowers, allows delightful views across farm land, rolling hills, woods and picturesque villages.  In the distance even the Didcot Power Station Cooling Towers look majestic.

The views were a reminder of one of the things I love about running – that it can be an adventure and a great way to discover an area.  This week the unexpected views provided that extra boost that lifted the run from routine into remarkable.

To set the scene we needed to run 8 K on Wednesday, the hottest day of the year so far and still a respectable 27°C when we set off at 21:00.  Since I had been so hot and thirsty on the first run of the week (Monday, 5 K, Didcot Ladygrove Loop) I decided the best thing to do was drink a couple of glasses of water before I left.  Note: actually not a brilliant idea it turns out – I spent the first few kilometres feeling like a giant water balloon, slushing internally and groaning with every step.  In addition, early on this new route wasn’t great, just tired residential areas followed by a dodgy looking overgrown dark wooded path with uneven pavement.  (If you have watched Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: at the beginning when Belle’s father has to choose between two roads – one bright and enchanted woodlands complete with chirping birds and the other a dark and desecrated forest – yeah we were definitely closer to option two).  On top of this, despite waiting until late evening it was still stiflingly hot.  I hadn’t eaten yet either so I was not particularly enjoying the moment or in the best of moods.

So, imagine then, when the path suddenly opened up and offered up spectacular views.  All the little niggles drifted away and I was just in awe.  All that nature, combined with the setting sun and high orange tinted moon and the run became pleasant once more.  Ended up running 8.5 K and going back for the long run on Sunday (13 K) where we took these photos.

Week 1: Total mileage for the week was 26.5 K (16.5 miles), total running time was 3:11.

This week I am genuinely excited to be starting the 16 week programme that will enable me to run 26.2 miles on the 18^th of October.  I have got new shoes, ordered a GPS watch, bought “The Ultimate Marathon Guide” and have been counting down the hours until I can go on my next run.

I am super happy to be doing this.  I have plans to run along The Thames, the Majorca coast line, Brittany’s beautiful beaches, the streets of Krakow, through Robin Hood County Forest, Fleet, Hitchin, The Chilterns, Warrington, Lisbon… so many adventures waiting to happen and I just want to get on with it already!

**Feel free to remind me of this when we have to run 20 miles on week 10 in scorching summer heat and there is a gradual incline**

However at the moment I’m like an eager exuberant puppy when it hears the word “walkies” whispered conspiratorially by its master, as in, I have endless enthusiasm for running and all things running related.  It’s a complete U-turn on where I was last year and even I think it’s surreal.  For people who haven’t seen me in a few months the transformation must be quite jarring.

I am not an athletic person.  At school teachers assigned me to the “allergic to running” group during cross country season.  And until August last year I had not run for more than a few tortured seconds at any given time and exclusively for emergency purposes only.  But somehow I have ended up here, planning on running a marathon, 14 months after tying up my laces for the first time.

So why a marathon? Surely there are other races more suited to my beginner status?  Well, maybe, but I have already run 5 K, 10 K and 21 K so a marathon is the next most logical step.  Maybe I still don’t quite trust this change of heart and I hope this will cement running in my life forever.  Maybe I still have something to prove.  Maybe booking a race is the only way I know to stay motivated.  Maybe because I had written myself off entirely and the idea of running a marathon has suddenly gone from being absolutely ludicrous to something within the realms of my physical capabilities.  Maybe because I believe I can and maybe, just maybe, my story encourages others in the same position as I was to try running too.

These are many good reasons to run a marathon.

Mostly though, I suspect, it’s because I want to and it would be cool.

I feel I ought to say something profound and offer some insight into how and why I suddenly decided after a lifetime of inactivity that running would be my new hobby.

The “how” was – badly – running was not at all easy to begin with and it did not feel natural to me.  My previously acceptable reasons to run only stretched as far as to;

1) Evade death,

2) Bathroom emergencies and

3) Get first in line to a free buffet.

I used to spend my early runs gasping hopelessly for breath with lead legs and wishing the sessions were over.  Even when I graduated to longer runs (once I had completed a 5 K and wanted a new challenge) I would spend the first  half mentally chiding and belittling myself wondering what the hell I was trying to achieve.  I would always get a stitch about 15-20 minutes into a run and my legs would ache all the next day.  Once I swear I even had an allergic reaction to running.  The only excuse I have for sticking with it (at first) was that I had started the NHS couch to 5 K podcasts (a 9-week programme designed to get almost anybody running for 30 continuous minutes) and I was determined to finish it.  It turns out I can be quite stubborn.  I should point out here that I did not finish the first podcast – I had to stop partway through and go home and nap.  However somewhere along the line, the road, the ParkRun, Didcot Ladygrove Healthy Living Loop or Hackney Marshes I actually started to enjoy the way running made me feel.  I gave my body a purpose and it actually met the challenge.  I stopped getting stitches and muscle aches and could run further and faster with much less effort.  It wasn’t always plain sailing, I got my first injury from overtraining and I was absolutely devastated when I couldn’t run for 2 weeks in February – right before my first 10 K race.  So it is an enormous sense of accomplishment to say I have run my first half marathon when 10 months ago I couldn’t run for even a full minute.  Running has a truly measurable, addictive progress, where the only competition is yourself and the community is so mixed and welcoming (GO TO A PARKRUN to see what I mean).  Anyone could be a runner (barring obvious medical complications)!

The “why” is harder to define, perhaps it was just a combination of the right time, right place, good support and encouragement along the way (you know who you are) and a Race booked as a goal – and those things certainly helped but I think it really just boils down to the fact that I had decided I would do it and so I did.  I know it seems like I have joined some kind of running cult, as I have all the zeal and enthusiasm of a recent convert, but genuinely if you are curious and want a new challenge then why not try it too?  You might just surprise yourself!

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/